JuJu Watkins or Isaiah Collier: Who’s Proved to Be USC Trojans’ Real Star Freshman?

Before stepping onto the court at the Galen Center for their debut basketball games with Southern California, JuJu Watkins and Isaiah Collier made history together, solidifying themselves as one of the nation’s top basketball programs. Last year in November, when Watkins and Collier announced their decision to attend USC, it marked the first time that both the top male and female consensus recruits from high school had chosen the same university in a single season.

On November 15, 2022, Watkins revealed her commitment, followed by Collier announcing his plans the next day. Their paths crossed at the McDonald’s All-American Game in March. Collier, hailing from Atlanta, decided to join the Trojans over teams from the ACC and SEC, while Watkins, a Los Angeles native, opted to stay close to home. Though they both serve a crucial purpose for their respective teams, the debate over who is the better freshman has evolved.

JuJu Watkins took USC basketball by storm

The entry of Watkins into the women’s program has marked a significant turning point for USC, which was formerly a leading force in the 1980s and early 1990s. Currently, the Trojans hold the sixth position in The Associated Press Top 25 rankings, their highest position since 1994. Watkins has been a key player for the team with five 30-point performances, ranking her second in the country behind Iowa’s Caitlin Clark. She is averaging 27.3 points per game and has been named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week within the first five weeks of her career.

Watkins has established herself as a dominant player, breaking Lisa Leslie’s long-standing rookie record of 30-point games in the program by racking up four 30-burgers over the course of six games. She has court vision that rivals that of a Ring Camera and utilizes her height, agility, and talent to ensure that she and her teammates make the most out of every offensive play.

Furthermore, Watkins has an impressive defensive record, grabbing 57 rebounds and contributing at least one steal per game. She establishes her presence defensively, snatching defensive rebounds and racking up steals to complement the transition offense. With her help, the Trojans have achieved a 10-0 record and secured the No. 6 spot in the AP Top 25 rankings.

The USC freshman guard is worth a whopping $156,000 NIL as of June 2023. JuJu’s first contract was with Klutch Sports Group. This occurred in the year 2022, when she was a junior in high school. Klutch Sports also represented her as the first female athlete.

In October 2022, JuJu signed her first NIL deal. This arrangement was with Nike, the world’s leading maker of sports footwear and clothes. JuJu finished the year with another interesting NIL deal with the athletic helmet company Lids. Watkins also signed with the official sponsor of USC athletics, House of Victory, in July of this year. She recently made headlines for signing a NIL agreement with Mercedes-Benz, as she received Merced Eqsas as part of the deal.

Read More: USC Star JuJu Watkins Admits Cashing Out From Billion Dollar Companies “Fuels” Her Game

Isaiah Collier is paving the way for the top

The NBA Draft of 2024 is highly competitive, with Isaiah Collier initially ranked as the top prospect by ESPN. However, due to recent troubles, his draft stock has plummeted, causing him to fall in mock drafts. While USC basketball had high hopes for Collier’s freshman season, the team has struggled, failing to climb back up the rankings since dropping out of the Top 25.

Collier’s performance on the court has been mixed, with a 56.1% shooting average from two-point range but a dismal 31.6% from beyond the arc on low volume. Despite this, he’s still averaging 15.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per game this season.

However, his propensity for errors has been equally notable, especially in recent games against non-mid-major opponents, where he’s had 14 turnovers to just 16 assists. In a game against Oregon State on December 30, the Trojans suffered a crushing defeat, with Collier coughing up five turnovers.

The high expectations that come with playing alongside well-known athletes James and Rodman have put a lot of strain on Collier, causing his every move to come under heavy scrutiny. The team’s struggles have been partly due to the high standards ingrained by the trio’s presence.

Watch This Story: Victor Wembanyama vs Kristaps Porzingis vs Boban Marjanovic Ranking 2023-24 NBA’s Tallest Players

It is said that his entire contract is worth $588,000. A prominent agreement he made was with Beats by Dre, a well-known brand in the music business. Collier made a significant appearance in a Beats Academy commercial film as a result of this partnership. Beats Academy is a project that aims to produce social media content with NIL players like Collier. But in terms of play, Collier has a long way to go before reaching JuJu Watkins.